Perched on top of a hill in the heart of the city the Lisbon Castle offers some of the best views around. Escape the city streets to explore the walls and relax whilst admiring the river. Below are a video, photos and info to plan your visit to the Castle of Sao Jorge Lisbon Portugal.
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Why visit the Lisbon Castle of Sao Jorge?
The Castle of Sao Jorge is one of the top attractions in Lisbon.
Located high on a hill, it offers beautiful views of the city.
It is a fun place to explore that should satisfy adults and kids alike.
Inside the Lisbon Castle
Below is a short video showing you around the Lisbon Castle of Sao Jorge (a.k.a. Castelo de Sao Jorge or St George Castle) and the views from there:
It is one of the best things to do in Lisbon.
More photos and details after the planning tips.
PLANNING TIPS - Castle of Sao Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
How to get to the Sao Gorge Castle
- In the heart of Lisbon, above the Alfama district
- Access via a 19th century gate next to a yellow building (minibus 37 or Tram 28 + walking or taxi)
Ticket office and entrance
Visiting the Lisbon Castle
- Lisbon Castle price - 10 euros
- Castelo de Sao Jorge opening hours: Mar to Oct - 9am to 9pm / Nov to Feb - 9am to 6pm
- Check the latest opening hours and prices on the castle's official website
- Lots of stairs to explore the walls
- Wear good shoes, many rocks and pavements
- Facilities and restaurant inside
- It has a camera Obscura open on sunny days (limited entries)
Lisbon Accommodations
Check out some suggestions in my Portugal Accommodations article
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Views of the Castle from Lisbon
As it is located on a hilltop, you can see the Lisbon Castle from many places in Lisbon. Here are some of the best viewpoints:
Sao Jorge Castle from the Miradouro da Senhora de Monte
This viewpoint is quite high, so you are almost at the same level as the castle. This photo was zoomed a little, but it remains the closest viewpoint to admire the fort.
Lisbon Castle from the Santa Justa Lift Platform
From the city center, you can ride the old elevator called Santa Justa Lift and gain access to its viewing platform. This location is better to see the rooftops of the city, but you still have a decent view of the Castle of Sao Jorge Lisbon Portugal.
Castle de Sao Jorge from the Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara
One of the most famous viewpoints in Lisbon is Sao Pedro de Alcantara. I don't think it is the best one but from there you have a side view of the castle and a good visibility on the giant staircase (that we will see from the top later in this article).
Castelo the Sao Jorge Facts
Here are some information about the Lisbon Castle Sao Jorge's History:
- Human presence on the hilltop has been dated back to the 6th century BC
- The first fortifications date back to the 2nd Century BC
- Then it was extended by the Romans and the the Visigoths and later the Moors
- A lot of what you see today is from the 20th century restoration
- The castle is roughly square in shape
- Today, you can only see ruins of the Royal Palace
Sao Jorge Castle - Main Square and Views
As you enter through the gate, you first discover the main square and what remains of the Royal Palace (spoiler alert: not much!). And you will quickly be attracted by the large esplanade with amazing views of Lisbon, the river and the bridge.
The Lisbon Castle definitively offers some of the best views of the city and there is so much space that everyone can enjoy it.
The Lisbon castle was built as a defensive fort and some old canons are still in place today:
Visiting the Lisbon castle - map and entrance
Then you can have fun entering the Lisbon fort itself. Below is the map of the Castle's grounds:
Lisbon Castle Map
Within the walled complex, this is the entry to the Lisbon Castle itself:
No displays of any kind, but many staircases everywhere to go and explore the different walls.
Exploring the walls
The best part (except the esplanade views) of the Lisbon Castle of Sao Jorge is the exploration of the walls and towers. You get even more views of the city, including on the other side you don't see from the esplanade.
Below you can see the staircase I talked about in the first section. If you have vertigo it is quite impressive as it is very steep.
In the corners you can enter the small roofed areas and get more views of the city.
The Lisbon Castle is one of my Top attractions in Portugal list
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